Data-displaying device



April 22, 1924.

s. M. BABSON DAJTA DISPLAYING DEVICE Filed May 18. 1923 INVENTOR e/7%.QAAM M Mia ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

STANLEY M. BA'BSON, OF WEST ORANGE. NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE BATESMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

DATA-DISPLAYING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY M. BABsoN, residing in the town of VestOrange, in the county of Essex and State of New J ersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Data-Displaying Devices, of whichthe following is a-description.

My invention relates to devices for displaying and rendering readilyavailable recorded or inscribed data, and while not limited thereto isparticularly directed to mechanical directories of the type employed forindexing and displaying the .names of a large number of telephonesubscribers and their telephone numbers.

A device of the type referred to comprises a data carrying member,preferably in the form of a flexible strip upon which the desired datamay be inscribed or recorded and which is preferably of considerablelength so as to be adapted to receive a large number of items, meanspreferably including accelerating mechanism for actuating said member sothat the inscribed surface thereof may be moved very rapidly in eitherdirection to enable any desired portion of said surface to be readilyand quickly brought to agiven exhibiting or reading position, and meanswhereby the presentation of the desired portion of the inscribed surfaceof the data receiving member at said position or point is facilitated.One of the objects of my invention is to provide in a device of thischaracter an arrangement for facilitating the presentation of anydesired portion of the data carrying member in reading or exhibitingposition, including improved indicating means which is adapted to giveto the operator or observer of the device, at any and all times, aneffective indication of the particular section of the data carryingmember in exhibiting position, regardless of the speed at which suchmember may 'be moved,- and which is free from the inaccuracies of theindicating devices heretofore employed for this purpose.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device such as describedwhich is very simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture andwhich at the same time is extremely eflicient and ac- .curate inoperation.

My invention also resides in an improved data carrying member,preferably in the form of a flexible strip, for devices of the typedescribed herein.

Other objects and features of my invention will be hereinafter morefully described and claimed. 3

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, attention isdirected to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of thisspecification and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View, partly broken away, of one form of datadisplaying device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of the deviceshown in Fig. 1; and

Figure 3 is. a plan view, partly broken away, of the improved datacarrying strip of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when unrolled.

The invention as illustrated in the drawing isembodied in the form of atelephone directory and comprises a casing 1 which is generallyrectangular in form and the top 2 of which has an intermediate inclinedportion 3 provided with a rectangular sight opening 11. The datacarrying member is preferably in the form of a long, flexible strip 6,and the ends of the strip are respectively suitably secured to a pair ofspools or rollers 4 and 5 which are rotatably mounted within the casing1 adjacent the top and ends of the latter so that as the strip is woundfrom either of the rollers onto the other the portion thereof ex tendingbetween the rollers will be beneath and closely adjacent the inclinedportion 3 of the top of the casing. Reference characters. 7 and 8represent lugs formed on one side of the casing 1, and 9 and 10represent studs or pins respectively secured to the rollers 4 and 5axially thereof and journaled in the lugs 7 and 8 respectively. It willbe apparent that a portion or section of the strip 6 will always beexposed or exhibited at the sight opening 11. The strip 6 is preferablcomposed of linen or oth r suitable textile material and has a suitablyprepared surface upon which the desired data may be inscribed. A backingplate 12 is mounted within the casing 1 beneath the strip 6 and directlyopposite the sight opening 11. and is preferably removably supported inthis positlon by means not shown. 7

The surface of the strip 6 exposedat the opening 11 in the movement ofthestrlp past the latter, is divided by substant1ally equ1- spacedtransverse lines into a longitudinally disposed series of spaces 13,each adapted to receive certain data such as a persons name and histelephone number. Adjacent one edge the strip is provided with alongitudinal line whereby the surface of the strip provided with thespaces 13, is formed w th a longitudinally extending marginal portion inwhich are disposed opposite the several spaces 13 a series of largeandpromlnent index characters 14 of a nature to identify the data inscribedor to be inscribed in the said spaces. Thus in the construction shownthe characters 14 comprise letters of the alphabet corresponding to theinitials of the names inscribed or to be inscribed in the adiacent'spaces 13. the same letter appearing in most instances a plurality oftimes opposite successive spaces 13 and the several 'letters or groupsof letters being alphabetically arranged longitudinally of the strip.The data receiving surface of the strip 6 also has applied theretoindicating means, preferably in the form of a very prominent line Aextending longitudinally of the strip and across the spaces 13,preferably from a point adjacent one edge or side of-the strip to apoint adjacent the opposite edge or side thereof, as clearly shown inFig. 3. A stationary index 15, in the present case an alphabeticalindex. extends transversely of the strip 6 and. is applied to a bevelledsurface formed on the casing 1 adjacent the upper edge of the opening11, and the line A on strip 6 cooperates with this index 15 so asto giveto the operator or other observer of the directory a correct andaccurate indication at any time, of the particular surface portion orsection of the data receiving surface of the strip 6 then presented atthe opening 11. The number of spaces 13 of the strip designated by oneor more of the letters of the alphabet may sometimes be diflt'erent thanthe number of spaces designated by another letter or other letters.Where this is the'case, as in the device illustrated, I preferably spacethe letters of the alphabet constituting the index 15 in conformity withthe number or combined length of the spaces designated by the respectiveletters 14 of the alphabet in the longitudinally extending desiredindications.

marginal portion of the strip 6 so that the indicating line A may bemade perfectly straight and'at the same time will cooperate with theindex 15 to give at all times the may, of ourse, be spaced uniformly andthe The letters of index 15' stepped or otherwise formed so as to obtaincause a corresponding feed or travel of the strip 6 beneath the inclinedportion 3 of the top of the casing and past the sight opening 11therein. I have provided very simple and effective meanswhereby a singlemanipulation will suffice to effect movement or travel of the whole of astrip having a considerable length, for example, 6 to 8 feet, past theopening 11 in either direction. This means consists of a pair of spurgears Y16 and 17 respectively secured to the spools or rollers 4 and 5at one end, a large gear 18 meshing with both of the gears 16 and 17, asmall gear 19 secured to the gear 18 axially thereof and a gear 22meshing with the small gear 19 and secured to a stud or short shaftextending through the side of casing 1 and provided with a knurled head24 at its outer end. The gears 18 and 19 are journaled in a lug orhearing 20 formed on the adjacent side of the casing 1 as by means of astud 21, and the stud or shaft to which the gear 22 and knurled head 24are secured is journaled in a bearing 23 formed on the same side of thecasing. The gears 22, 19, 18, 17 and 16 constitute speed acceleratingmechanism and act when the knurled head or knob 24 is turned, to effecta very rapid rotation of the spools 4 and 5 and'consequently a rapidtravel of the strip 6 past the opening 11. As a matter of fact. bygiving the knurled head 24 a quick turn with the fingers, the strip 6may be caused to travel past the window 11 at such a high speed as torender the large prominent index characters 14 in the marginal portionof the strip illegible. During such movement of i registry of this linewith the index 15 at all times. The gears of the accelerating'mechan1smare formed so as to fit nicely Without any b1ndmg action, and theinertia of the gears and of the rollers 4 and 5 and the length of strip6 are such, that when the knob 24 is given a quick turn with the fingersand then released, the momentum of indicating line A could, ifnecessary, bethe gears and rollers is suflicient to cause roller andwound onto the other roller and thus effect movement of substantiallythe entire length of the strip past the opening 11.

The operation of the mechanical telephone directory described herein isbelieved to be apparent from the foregoing, but may be briefly describedas follows: The names and telephone numbers of such persons as theoperator of the directory has occasion to call from time to time areinscribed in the appropriate spaces 13 on the strip 6 opposite theproper index characters or initial letters 14. When it is desired tobring a given name to exhibiting position at the opening 11, the knob 24is given a quick turn wth the fingers in one direction or the other,depending upon the relative position of said name on the strip withrespect to the section of the strip at that time presented at theopening 11, and then released. This as explained above, causes the stripto travel very rapidly, .and at the same time results in an apparentrelative slow movement of the indicating line A transversely withrespect to the stationary alphabetical index 15. The operator byfollowing the apparent transverse movement of the line A with respect tothe index 15, will note when this line registers with the letter of suchindex corresponding to the first letter of the desired name and may thusdetermine when the desired portion of the strip is approaching the sightopening 11. Thereupon the travel of the strip. 6 may be checked by'grasping the knob 24 in order to permit clear observation of thepassing index characters 14, which during the rapid movement of thestrip are rendered illegible, and the 'strip may then be readily broughtto and stopped at the proper position. It is thus apparent that anyportion of the strip, and consequently any name or other data" thereon,may be brought to exhibiting or reading position at the sight opening11,

with a minimum expenditure of time and effort. Moreover, by reason ofthearrange.- ment of the indicating means disclosed herein, my device isrendered very accurate. In this connection it is to be noted that theindicating means, consisting in the form of the invention shown of theline A, is directly controlled by and, in fact, is directly actuated by,the data carrying member 6, that this line, being applied to the strip6, bears a constant fixed relation to the spaces 13 and the indexcharacter 14, and that it also is incapable of any movement with respectto the index 15 independently of the strip 6.

While the particular construction described and shown herein comprises apreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that my invention may beembodied in various other forms and is subject to many changes andmodifications without de arture from the spirit and scope thereo asdefined in the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Lettors Patent, is as follows:

1. A device of the character described I a data receiving surfacemovable past said index, said surface having an indicating line appliedthereto and cooperating with said index to' indicate at any time theparticular section of thedata receiving surface of said member thenadjacent the index.

3. A device'of the character described comprising an index and a memberhaving a data receiving surface movable past said index, said surfacehaving a straight indicating line applied thereto and cooperating withsaid index to indicate at any time the particular section of the datareceiving surface of said member then adjacent the index, said linebeing inclined to the direction of movement of said surface andextending substantially the. whole length of said data receiving surfacefrom a point adjacent one edge of such surface to a point adjacent theopposite edge thereof.

4. A device of the character described comprising a data carryingmember, means for moving said member and means includwith respect to agiven" point regardless of v the speed at which the member' is moved.

5. A device of the character described comprising a data carryingmember, means for moving said member and means including an indicatordirectly movable by said member for clearly indicating to an observer atany time the position of said member with respect to a given pointregardless of the speed at which the member is moved. 6. A device of thecharacter described comprising a data carrying strip, means for movingsaid strip past a given reading point, and means including an indicatorapplied to said strip for clearly indicating at any time thelongitudinal section of said strip then adjacent said reading pointregardless of the speed at which the latter is moved.

7. A device of the character described comprising a casing provided witha sight opening, an index ad acent said opening, a data carrying memberwithin said casing,

means for actuating said member to move the data carrying surfacethereof past said sight opening and means applied to said member andcooperating. with said index to indicate the position of said memberwith respect to said opening.

8. A device of the character described comprising a casing provided witha sight opening, an index adjacent said opening, a data carrying memberwithin said casing, and means for actuating said member to move the datacarrying surface thereof past said sight opening, said member having anindicating line applied to its said surface and cooperating with saidindex to indicate the position of said member with respect to saidopening.

9. A device of the character described comprising a data carryingmember, means for moving said member rapidly past an exhibiting point,said data carrying'memher being provided with prominent index charactersvisible at said point as said memher is moved past the latter, and meansincluding an indicator applied to said member for indicating theposition of said member with respect to said point even when such memberis moved at a speed rendering said index characters illegible. 4

10. A device of the character described comprising a casing having asight opening, a data carrying member within said casing, actuatingmeans including accelerating mechanism for moving said member rapidlypast said sight opening, said data carrying member being provided withprominent index characters visible through said opening as said memberis moved past the latter, and means including an indicator movabledirectly by said member for indicating the position of the latter with"respect to said sight opening even when such member is moved at a speedrendering said index characters ille 'ble. i

11, A d vice of the character described travel in the direction of itslength past said sight opening, an index adjacent said sight openingextending transversely of the data carryin member and the indexcharacters of whlch are adapted to identify the data inscribed in thesaid groups of spaces respectively, said characters being s aced apartin conformity with the variation in the lengths of said groupsrespectively, the data receiving surface of said member having thereon astraight indicating line extending longitudinally thereof andcooperating with said index to indicate at any time the particular spaceof said member then adjacent said sight opening.

12. A device of the character described comprising a casin having asight opening, a data carrying strip mounted within said casing andprovided with a longitudinally extending series of groups of spacesvarying in length and adapted to be inscribed with suitable data, vmeansfor moving said strip past said sight opening, an index. adjacent saidopening extending transversely of the strip and the index characters ofwhich are adapted to identify the data inscribed in the said groups ofspaces respectively, said characters being spaced apart in conformitywith the variation in the lengths of said grou s respectively, saidstrip having a straig t indicating line applied thereto and extendinglongitudinally thereof, said line cooperating with said index so as toindicate at any time the articular data receiving space of said mem erthen adjacent the sight opening.

This specification signed this 17th day of May 1923.

- STANLEY M. BABSON.

